Superman Returns

Brandon Routh dons the cape worn famously by Christopher Reeve for the Man of Steel's long-awaited comeback. The superhero returns to Earth after several years absence to find lost love Lois Lane has moved on with her life, while arch-villain Lex Luthor is hatching a new diabolical scheme. Comic-book adventure, with Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Parker Posey.

Superman Returns

Parental Guide

Thrilling but violent, tense return for the Man of Steel.

Consumerism

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Drinking, drugs & smoking

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Language

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Positive messages

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Sex

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Violence

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Parents need to know that the movie features some violent images, beginning with the fiery crash of Superman's return vehicle, along with lots of explosions, earth-shakings, giant waves, and an especially harrowing sequence in which a plane almost crashes. There's an earthquake, a bank robbery, and a near-drowning. And lots of bloodless violence: The villain stabs Superman repeatedly, and in a long scene, Superman is kicked and beaten. Someone is crushed by a piano. Some younger kids could be upset by the fact that both mothers and sons are in jeopardy, and some scenes are very sad (Superman grieves for his lost father and his changed relationship with Lois; when he's in the hospital, people worry). Finally, it wouldn't be summer without smoking in a movie (every year it happens in kids' films...) -- Lois carries cigarettes; one scene in a bar shows beer drinking.